KatieLoeb

How 'bout a Japanese "roll-your-own" (sushi) party and have shabu-shabu and gyoza and other hands on foods? You could do a sake tasting as well.

Hathor: So sorry I missed you! And thank you for the lovely post re:your lunch at Rouge! Great picture too, thanks! I actually was toiling away in my office until about mid-afternoon yesterday and then went home and finished the payroll reports propped up in bed and heavily medicated. I do wish you'd asked for me to say hello - I'd certainly have come out of hiding to welcome you. I actually came out and scanned the dining room at one point to see if a party matching what I imagined yours would look like was there but alas, I didn't really know who I was looking for and decided to spare myself the embarrassment of walking up to every table and asking "Excuse me, are you Hathor?" Look forward to meeting you on your next trip to Philly!

I believe we're at an even dozen, but the list is at home. I'll be calling the restaurant tonight with a final count for our table. Meet @Samba at 6:30 PM tomorrow! Must. Fast. In anticipation.

Blood Orange Mimosa.

I just stumbled across this thread a few days ago, and was intrigued by the suggestion. I had always considered Evan Williams (and some other 1.75 liter bottlings) to be of, hrmmm, questionable quality. Well, I saw the Evan Williams 7 y.o. advertised in the Sunday local RiteAid flyer. Twelve bucks for a jug. Had to go out and pick some up, and you know what? It's purdy damn good! Definitely worth adding to the bar... P.S. It was named as the "Value Whiskey of the Year" by Malt Advocate Magazine. Hi Joe: Welcome! I'm a frugal shopper on many levels and for the obvious reasons both professionally and for "recreational use". The Evan Williams 7 yr. old is about the best "well" bourbon I've tried. I prefer it for mixing with Coke or ginger ale, and drink the higher end bourbons when making Manhattans or sipping on the rocks. Also only when I can afford them!

Holly Moore: Semi-Secret Aaaaaagent Maaaaaan! Ohmigosh! I'm never going to be able to look at Holly again without hearing that tune in my head! Earworm planted! Bad Andrew

Geezerette checking in here. I think I had a really romantic date at this restaurant when I was in college. Might have been a birthday or anniversary with that particular boyfriend, but I recall it being such a beautiful place. Sort of dark, but in a nice way, and very ambianced, if that's a word. It was a very grown up date because I remember he wore a tie. This fella was definitely not the tie sort, so this was serious.

Indeed Bella is aptly named. A gorgeous Abyssinian if I see correctly. Always wanted a puma-baby but satisfied myself with a house sized snow leopard (Ocicat) instead. Hathor and Ali, please stop by Rouge for a glass of rose. We're currently serving the Domaine de la Courtade L'Alycastre and it's delicious. I actually like it better than the Tavel. Pale salmon color, lovely nose - perfect sitting-in-the-sunshine wine. My latest fave on the list next to the Vouvray. Hathor, you are one serious huntress-gatherer! I'm duly impressed! And she bikes to Manhattan! A renaissance woman if ever there was one...

No. There's a chemical component of the grass that is classified as a "hallucinogenic agent" or some such nonsense, and hence is treated as a controlled substance, much like cocaine or heroin. Actually, IIRC, the reason it is banned is that there is a chemical component in the grass that acts as a blood thinner, the fear being along the lines that someone will get drunk on a lot of buffalo grass vodka, pass out and bleed to death from what would otherwise be a minor cut. Sam: You may very well be correct more specifically than I was. My understanding though was that the 1978 ban had something to do with "hallucinogenic" properties. But I've most certainly been wrong before, and I doubt this'll be the last time either. A recent reference to the rumor I'd heard is HERE The good news is that it's now legal again in all 50 states. There's a site devoted to Zubrowka HERE for any aficionados that need to find their stash. Having tried the real thing that was smuggled to me by a friend that did a lot of business in Poland, I can unequivocally state that it's really damned tasty stuff. Really refreshing with an herbacious taste that wasn't as nasty or overwhelming as say, gazpacho with too many bell peppers in it. Good vodka!

Ingrid: That article absolutely sums it up. Your insight and prose are both brilliant. Thank you for taking the time to express so eloquently that which we fussy foodie types know instinctively, but couldn't possibly even begin to explain. Mommydearest definitely gets some credit for all this. Her influence is obvious in both your writing style (having an English teacher for a mom can be tough but will absolutely make a better writer out of you!) and in your adventurous spirit and passion when it comes to food. Congratulations Ingrid, on an excellent summation of the thoughts that most of us can't even articulate, no less do so as eloquently as you have. Mommydearest - a happy Mother's Day to you! You done good!

Hello Flamenco Fans! My apologies for the delay in updating this thread. It seems the manager with whom I'd originally spoken has been out of town for a few days. I have just spoken with the other club manager this evening and he has graciously offered our group an unbelievable deal for this event. If we come to the club prior to the show for an all-you-can-eat Rodizio dinner at $22.95, there will be NO cover charge for the fabulous Flamenco Ole! performance! That's an even better deal than is posted on their website!! Tickets for the Flamenco performance only are $12.50 in advance or $15.00 day of show. To purchase advance tickets for the performance only, please call Samba nightclub directly at (215) 625-7900 and request tickets for the early 8:00 PM Flamenco Ole! show on Thursday May 13. Everyone that is joining us PLEASE, PM or e-mail me so I can confirm the total size of our party by Wednesday evening as I've promised the management. I just need to confirm the actual number of chairs/seats for our party, but if you would let me know if you plan on coming for dinner or just the show I think it would be considerate to give the restaurant a heads up on how many actual diners they will have on their hands. Thusfar I have placed the reservation under "The Katie Group" and confirmed for six persons including myself, Sara + 1, Carman, Gary and Claire. If everyone keeps me informed I will update the list here periodically so if I screw up, y'all can tell me! I suggest that those of us dining try to arrive at the restaurant between 6:30-6:45 in the hopes of having dinner fully underway by 7:00 PM. Although the dining room and the performance venue are one and the same, I think it would be best to have dinner prior to the show (as much as is possible) so that we are interrupted/interruptive as little as possible during the performance. As I mentioned previously, Flamenco Ole! is an enormously talented and incredibly authentic Flamenco troupe. I had the pleasure of attending their performances on several occasions at Tapas many years ago before the restaurant closed and it was always an excellent evening's worth of entertainment. The caliber and authenticity of the dancing and musical accompaniment is peerless. If you closed your eyes you could easily imagine yourself in a club in Andalusia. So where are you going to find an all-you-can-chow Atkins friendly dinner with a transcendant and transporting performance thrown in to boot for $22.95, eh? It's a bah-gain! I hope to see many of you there on Thursday next!

This is what I'm sayin'...

Lisa: I'll e-mail Shola and tell him to ask for you next time he's in. And I'm certain he'd have been flattered that you recognized him. You really should go to dinner at his place some time. You'd really enjoy it. You know Shola does read eGullet from time to time. At least that's what he tells me. I think we should definitely go do the Camera Brigade thing. It's like jumping out of a plane to cure your fear of heights. We'll be doing the guy and all his future customers a favor by performing our own therapy session for him. Yeah - he'd like that.

It just so happens that I have one mag of 61 Margaux left. If you and Brad planned a proper Pagan ritual maybe we could attract some other eGer's and indulge ourselves. Are you my new Best Friend? Ooooh Ooooh - I used to TEACH Paganism! If I plan the ceremony and bring along a d'Yquem, can I come along????? There's got to be a way to make this happen. March 4, 2011 is the big 5-0 for me. Shall we plan for the vernal equinox on March 20, 2011 at 6:21 PM EST? Or shall we wait for the summer solstice on June 21, 2001 at 12:16 PM? I will write this in my calendar in indelible ink if we're really going to pull this off. I have a bottle of 1997 Cepparello which ought to be just lovely by then that I could contribute to the cause.

Holly: What an ass! The only assumption you can make is that he must be in Witness Protection or something. Assuming you didn't take any photos of the ungracious owner I can only assume he's afraid someone back in the K.C. mob will recognize his baby back ribs on the World Wide Web If he had half a grain of sense he'd have thanked you for giving him the free publicity. I hope the cop reamed him for wasting his time. What did he expect the policeman to do? Knock on your door with a search warrant, confiscate your camera and come in and erase your hard drive? I repeat - what an ass.

out of curiosity: just how little of an object is money with these labels? are there bourbons that command the super premium (>$1000 per bottle) that some scotches do? Mongo: Both the Distiller's Masterpiece (which is aged for 20 years in port wine casks and has Daryl Groom, Geyser Peak winemaker consulting on the project) and the Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve are both in the $250-$275 range depending on where you buy it. That's about the most expensive bourbon I've ever seen and I don't think there's anything that's considered better. These are much more akin to a fine Cognac than what most folks think of as bourbon.

It just so happens that I have one mag of 61 Margaux left. If you and Brad planned a proper Pagan ritual maybe we could attract some other eGer's and indulge ourselves. Are you my new Best Friend?

A.H. Hirsch also makes a 13 year old rye that's outstanding. About $38 and well worth it.

Apricot Mimosas, Watermelon Mimosas, almost anything sweet and fruity can have some sparkling wine tossed on it and make a tasty brunch beverage. If you were stuck with a bottle of Cynar artichoke liqueur maybe not so much...

I got it. We'll split the cost, I'll drink the first half, then ship the rest to you. Hmmppft! And I thought it was a gracious invite. Besides, long distance Pagan rites don't really work. You have to be there.

KatieLoeb, Thanks sooo much for the correction! My pleasure!

Actually Cinco de Mayo has nothing at all to do with Mexican independence. It's a celebration of the victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla. The Cinco de Mayo=Mexican Independence Day thing is a very common misconception.

Good question Mongo! I'm going to sort a little diffferently as well, just because there's too many favorites at too many price levels: Inexpensive but excellent quality = Evan Williams 7 year old < $20 = Maker's Mark < $30 = Woodford Reserve, Basil Hayden, Gentleman Jack < $50 = Baker's, Blanton's <$75 = Eagle Rare 17 year old (this may be one of my very favorites) < $100 = A.H. Hirsch 16 or 20 year old (if you can find it), Pappy Van Winkle 20 year old (I think price may have gone just above $100 of late) Money is no object = Distiller's Masterpiece, Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 year old (haven't actually tasted this one myself, just heard about the legendary taste from other Bourbophilic friends)

Same here. I knew there was a reason I liked your vibe. I've yet to have a wine from 1961 (with Bordeaux being the way to go of course). And the wines are priced so far out of reach. I need to find some extremely generous friends, and then get them to bestow an act of kindness upon me. Brad: Let's forget friends and acts of kindness. Let's be self-reliant! How's this for a pact. We locate and share the bottle on a date that falls right in between both our birthdays. Or do something with slightly Pagan overtones and share it on a solstice or equinox or something equally universally significant. Nothing less would be worthy of either us or the wine! I knew there was a reason I liked you too.

Thanks for the props Owen. I wish I could take credit for it being my idea. Our coffee is supplied by La Colombe. We grind right before brewing each pot directly into an air pot to keep it hot. During brunches the turnover is so quick it wouldn't really matter though... We purchase our loose teas from House of Tea and do French press pot tea service. We also brew our own iced tea which is Raspberry-Passionfruit flavored. We get that from a different purveyor though.